Isaiah 35:4-6 (The Message)

God is here, right here,on his way to put things rightAnd redress all wrongs.He's on his way! He'll save you! Blind eyes will be opened,deaf ears unstopped,Lame men and women will leap like deer,the voiceless break into song.Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness,streams flow in the desert.Hot sands will become a cool oasis,thirsty ground a splashing fountain.

In West Texas, my homeland, the ground is dry. Often the creeks and lakes are well below desired water levels. Lawn grass is usually brown, because we are often in a drought and water is rationed.

The beauty of West Texas comes in the wide horizon. You can see for miles. Sunsets and sunrises are breathtaking, and from miles away, you can see a storm approaching.

When rain comes, it comes in a deluge, and the cracked earth soon becomes clay.

This is the image that comes to my mind when I read, “Hot sands will become a cool oasis.” Jesus’ arrival is like the cool rain on the parched West Texas earth! With His arrival, new life comes. This is the reason for waiting with joy for Christ to come!

Pray: Lord, I need to be refreshed. I want to be renewed. As I wait for you, help me take joy in knowing your arrival brings relief. Amen